Commitment to running game, defense propel Saints to victory

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Oct 30, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton left celebrates with his team after a win against the Seattle Seahawks in a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Seahawks 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports Derick E. Hingle, Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Oct 30, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata (93) celebrates after a defensive stop to win the game as time expired during the fourth quarter of a game against the Seattle Seahawks at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Seahawks 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports Derick E. Hingle, Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans Saints running back Tim Hightower (34) rushing for the first down as the Saints go on to beat Seattle by a final score of 25-20 on Sunday.(Photo11: Buddy Delahoussaye/For The Advertiser)Buy Photo

This isn't how the Saints normally do it.

New Orleans has grown accustomed to winning shootouts behind Drew Brees and the explosive passing offense making up for a much-maligned defense that has been torched throughout the season.

Not this time.

The Saints' defense stiffened when it needed to, holding the Seahawks to only 20 points in a 25-20 win Sunday afternoon after coming into the game allowing 32.5 points per game — worst in the NFL. New Orleans held Seattle to only four first downs in the first half.

A return to the lineup of linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, who played in his first game all season and recorded five tackles, was a boon, as well as fellow linebacker Nate Stupar making an athletic interception in the first half to curb the Seahawks' momentum.

The interception came after the Seahawks took a 14-0 lead before holding the Saints to a field goal.

"It was good to see (Ellerbe) back in the lineup," said Saints coach Sean Payton. "Every time I talk to my son during the week he would ask me who the inactives would be and I would cringe when I would say Dannell Ellerbe and finally this week I didn't have to give him his name.

And it was the defense that eventually won the game for the Saints in the closing seconds.

After allowing the Seahawks to drive inside the red zone, one of the few times Seattle sustained a consistent drive, B.W. Webb had perfect coverage of Seahawks' receiver Jermaine Kearse in the back of the end zone.

"I’ve been saying it all year long. We just needed to bounce back and continue getting better," said Saints defensive end Cam Jordan. "I felt like the defense played a full game and that’s something we’ve been talking about, just putting all four quarters together."

Saints quarterback Drew Brees said the Saints' balance on offense helped set the defense up for success throughout the game.

It has often been a criticism under the Sean Payton-led Saints that the running game can be too quickly forgotten and it would have been easy to do so in the early goings of the game after Saints running back Mark Ingram fumbled and Seahawks' safety Earl Thomas returned it for a touchdown.

Trailing 14-0, and with a running back who had fumbled for the second-straight week, rather than let Brees air it out, the Saints stayed committed to the running game.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) leaps over the line for the Saints first touchdown on Sunday October 30, 2016. ADVERTISER PHOTO BY BUDDY DELAHOUSSYE Buddy Delahoussaye/For USA TODAY Network

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandon Coleman (16) with another catch for a first down during the second half as the New Orleans Saints take on the Seattle Seahawks in the Mercedes-Benz Super Dome on Sunday October 30, 2016. ADVERTISER PHOTO BY BUDDY DELAHOUSSYE Buddy Delahoussaye/For USA TODAY Network

New Orleans Saints running back Tim Hightower (34) rushing for the first down as the Saints go on to beat Seattle by a final score of 25-20 on Sunday October 30, 2016. ADVERTISER PHOTO BY BUDDY DELAHOUSSYE Buddy Delahoussaye/For USA TODAY Network

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) with a big first down catch late in fourth quarter to allow the Saints to maintain possession of the ball on Sunday October 30, 2016. ADVERTISER PHOTO BY BUDDY DELAHOUSSYE Buddy Delahoussaye/For USA TODAY Network

New Orleans Saints running back Tim Hightower (34) with a first down rush during the second half on Sunday October 30, 2016. ADVERTISER PHOTO BY BUDDY DELAHOUSSYE Buddy Delahoussaye/For USA TODAY Network

New Orleans Saints running back Tim Hightower (34) is held just short of the first down as the Saints go on to defeat the Seahawks by a final score of 25-20 on Sunday October 30, 2016. ADVERTISER PHOTO BY BUDDY DELAHOUSSYE Buddy Delahoussaye/For USA TODAY Network

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll gives Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham a high five before the game in the Mercedes-Benz Super Dome on Sunday October 30, 2016. ADVERTISER PHOTO BY BUDDY DELAHOUSSYE Buddy Delahoussaye

The Saints finished with 35 passing attempts and 35 rushing attempts in the win, dominating the time of possession battle with 36 minutes compared to only 23 minutes for Seattle.

"We won the time of possession by a large margin and when you do that, it is very complementary to your defense," Brees said.

Payton said the Saints decision to stick with the running game helped limit the snaps for the Seahawks offense, even if at times it could be frustrating to run against such a stout defensive front.

The Saints only averaged 3.5 yards per carry, and struggled especially in the red zone where Seattle's defense forced the Saints to run eight plays inside the two-yard line on two separate drives.

Brees scored a short touchdown on one drive and the Saints settled for a field goal on the other, much to Payton's chagrin.

"We knew coming into the game that is was going to be important that we ran the ball, we didn't put a number on it, but we knew it was going to be important to have that," Payton said. "We kicked too many field goals for my liking. It doesn't have to be aesthetically pleasing to be effective."

After the fumble, Ingram was benched for fellow running back Tim Hightower, who finished with 26 carries for 102 yards.

The tough running Hightower said the Seahawks gave the Saints some difficult looks in the running game, but New Orleans knew against a physical team they would have to control the line of scrimmage.

While both Payton and Brees said Ingram would bounce back from the difficult performance, something Hightower echoed in his post game comments as well.

"This is the kind of game I'm built for, I like to try and set the tone. These are the games you do the extra reps for during practice," Hightower said. "I live for these opportunities and these moments. You can't make a physical team finesse. You have to match their intensity and I don't think they were prepared for this type of game from us.

"I've been in (Ingram's) shoes. I've had some rough games where I've put the ball on the ground two times. But when one of us is down, we pick each other up. Mark is a heck of a running back and we're going to need him just liked they needed me today."

NOTES:

Sky Sports reported the Saints would play the Miami Dolphins in London next season. The Dolphins were reported to be the home team in the contest.

The late Will Smith was posthumously inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame this weekend. Smith, 34, was shot to death on April 9 following a traffic incident. He spent 10 seasons with the Saints. "When we drafted Will Smith in 2004, defensive end was not a pressing need for our team," Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis said. "But more important than that, Will had the talent, leadership ability and work ethic you look for in a player. In his 10 seasons as a Saints, Will more than fulfilled his potential both on and off the field."

The late Hokie Gajan was inducted as the Joe Gemelli Fleur-de-Lis recipient for 2016 for hos contributions to the organization. Gajan died at the age of 56 after a year-long battle with a rare cancer known as liposarcoma. "First as a player, then as a college scout and later as a broadcaster, Gajan always had a special bond both with everyone he touched with the New Orleans Saints as well as our fan base," Loomis said. "This recognition is certainly deserved considering his outstanding contributions to our organization and community.

Gajan and Smith were both recognized at halftime and receiving standing ovations.

The Saints extended their franchise record streak of game-opening touchdown drives to five, after setting the record at four last week.

Tim Hightower became the first 100-yard rusher for the Saints, which marked the first 100-yard rushing performance by a Saints running back since Week 16 last season when Hightower eclipsed the century mark.

The win brought the Saints all-time regular season win against Seattle to 7-6.

Brandin Cooks has now caught 16 touchdowns from Drew Brees, which ties him with Darren Sproles for No. 7 on the list of Brees touchdown targets.